Blueberry plant named &#39;ZF05-196&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF05-196’ is provided. ‘ZF05-196’ is a nursery variety intended for the landscape and home garden markets. The variety produces high yields of medium sized fruit with nice flavor and firmness. ‘ZF05-196’ is a mid-season variety, ripening after Draper and before Liberty. The variety is very vigorous with an upright stature and attractive, long fruit clusters.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

LATIN NAME OF THE FAMILY, GENUS, AND SPECIES

Family—Ericaceae.

Genus—Vaccinium.

Species—corymbosum hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘ZF05-196.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of northern highbush blueberry known as a Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid referred to as ‘ZF05-196,’ as herein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF05-196’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in 2005. ‘ZF05-196’ is a nursery variety intended for the landscape and home garden markets. The variety produces high yields of medium sized fruit with nice flavor and firmness. ‘ZF05-196’ is is a mid-season variety, ripening after Draper and before Liberty. The variety is very vigorous with an upright stature and attractive, long fruit clusters.

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘Duke’ (female parent, unpatented) by ‘Legacy’ (pollen parent, unpatented). The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF05-196’ has been planted in replicated trials since 2007.

The new variety can be compared to female parent ‘Duke’ in that ‘ZF05-196’ is more upright, has longer fruit clusters, a higher yield and ripens about 2 to 3 weeks later.

The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Liberty’ in that ‘ZF05-196’ has a higher yield, larger berries and ripens about one week earlier.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF05-196’ has maintained its distinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexual propagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones are phenotypically identical to the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF05-196’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg., and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘ZF05-196’:

1. Vigorous plant with upright stature.

2. Long, loose fruit clusters.

3. High yields.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘ZF05-196.’ The colors are a nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘ZF05-196.’

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘ZF05-196.’

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘ZF05-196.’

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘ZF05-196.’ The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately three years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Classification: a. Family — Ericaceae. b. Genus — Vaccinium. c.     Species — corymbosum hybrid. d. Common Name — Northern Highbush     Blueberry. -   Parentage: Female Parent — Duke (unpatented). Male Parent — Legacy     (unpatented). -   Market class: ‘ZF05-196’ is a nursery variety intended for the     landscape and home garden markets. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant size.—a. Height of Plant: Average of 49 inches on 4             year old plants. b. Canopy Diameter: Average of 44 inches on             4 year old plants.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Twigginess.—Not twiggy.         -   Suckering.—Low.         -   Evergreenness.—Deciduous.         -   Chilling requirement.—Approximately 700-1000 hours.         -   Cold hardiness.—Approximately USDA zones 4-8. Productivity             In Lowell, Oreg. a. 4 year old plants: Produced an average             of 6.85 lbs per plant, compared to Liberty plants of the             same age which produced an average of 7.46 lbs per plant. b.             5 year old plants: Produced an average of 14 lbs per plant,             compared to Liberty plants of the same age, which produced             an average of 8.9 lbs per plant.         -   Propagation.—Easy to propagate from softwood cuttings.         -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—a. Root rot (Phytophthora             cinnamomi): Does not appear to be overly susceptible. b.             Stem Blight (Botryosphaeria spp): Undetermined. c. Phomopsis             Twig Blight (Phomopsis vaccinii): Does not appear to be             overly susceptible. d. Botryosphaeria Stem canker             (Botryosphaeria corticis): Undetermined. e. Bacterial Cane             Canker (Pseudomonas syringae): Does not appear to be overly             susceptible. f. Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea): Does not             appear to be overly susceptible. g. Leaf Spot (Septoria             spp.): Does not appear to be overly susceptible. h. Leaf             rust (Naohidemyces vaccinii): Does not appear to be overly             susceptible. i. Bud Mites (Acalatus vaccinii): Undetermined.         -   Survival.—Good. -   Wood:     -   -   Texture.—a. Surface Texture New Wood: Smooth. b. Surface             Texture 1 year Wood: Smooth. c. Surface Texture 3 year Wood:             Smooth turning rough.         -   Color.—a. Color New Wood: Pantone color Green Banana             14-0434. b. Color Rough Bark 1 year: Pantone colors: Catchup             18-1449, Hay 12-0418, and Green Banana 14-0434 c. Color             Rough Bark 3 year: Pantone colors: Desert Dust 13-1018,             Tobacco Brown 17-1327, and Gray Sand 13-1010. -   Leaves:     -   -   Internode length.—Average of 16.5 mm.         -   Dimensions.—a. Leaf Length: Average 72.5 mm. b. Leaf Width:             Average 41.14 mm.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptical with acute apex and rounded base.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—a. Leaf Color Upper Leaf Surface: Pantone color Chive             19-0323. b. Leaf Color Lower Leaf Surface: Pantone color             Mistletoe 16-0220.         -   Pubescence.—a. Pubescence Upper Leaf Surface: Absent. b.             Pubescence Lower Leaf Surface: Absent. c. Pubescence Leaf             Margins: Absent.         -   Petiole.—a. Petiole length: Average of 4.78 mm. b. Petiole             color: Pantone color Hay 12-0418 and Catchup 18-1449. c.             Petiole surface texture: Smooth.         -   Leafing vs flowering.—In Lowell, Oreg. flower bud break             occurs prior to vegetative bud break. Flowers persist during             initial vegetative growth period. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flower clusters arranged alternately             along branch.         -   Immature flower color.—Pantone colors Mauve Glow 16-1617 and             Snow White 11-0602.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, Sweet.         -   Flower shape.—Urceolate to cylindrical.         -   Flower length.—Average of 10.4 mm.         -   Pedicel.—a. Pedicel Length Flower: Average of 4.55 mm. b.             Pedicel Color: Pantone color Green Olive 17-0535.         -   Peduncle.—a. Peduncle Length Flower: Average of 15.76 mm. b.             Peduncle Color: Pantone colors Green Banana 14-0434 and Red             Earth 18-1444.         -   i Pollen.—a. Pollen Staining: Approximately 95% viable,             staining with 2% acetocarmine dye. b. Pollen Abundance:             Medium. c. Pollen Color: Pantone color Corn Silk 13-0932.         -   Corolla.—a. Corolla Length: Average of 8.25 mm. b. Corolla             Diameter: Average of 7.4 mm. c. Corolla Aperture: Average of             4.29 mm. d. Corolla Color: Pantone color Snow White             11-0602. e. Corolla Texture: Smooth.         -   Style length.—Average of 7.52 mm.         -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Diameter: Average of 6.52 mm. b. Calyx             Surface: Smooth. c. Calyx Color: Pantone colors Spinach             Green 16-0439, lobes Green Oasis 15-0538.         -   Pistil color.—Pantone color Green Olive 17-0535.         -   Flowering cluster.—Loose.         -   Flowering period.—Begins flowering in mid-April, reaching             50% bloom in the first week of May and continues flowering             through the end of May.         -   Number flowers.—Average of 7 to 8.         -   Stigma location.—Average 0.1 mm above or even with the lip             of corolla.         -   Anther.—a. Anther length : Average of 4.11 mm. b. Anther             color: Pantone color Autumn Leaf 17-1347.         -   Self-compatibility.—Low. Approximately 18% of             self-pollinated flowers reach maturity (this pollination             trial was completed on field plants and may not accurately             represent the self-compatibility of this variety. Trials to             be repeated in 2012). -   Berries:     -   -   Mean harvest date.—August 4.         -   Mean date last pick.—August 25.         -   Quantity berries per cluster.—Average of 7 to 8 berries per             cluster.         -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Aperture: Average of 5.06 mm. b. Calyx             Lobes: 5 moderately distinct lobes. c. Calyx Depth: Average             of 1.68 mm.         -   Berry cluster.—Loose.         -   Berry pedicel.—a. Length: Average of 10.19 mm. b. Surface             Texture: Smooth.         -   Berry peduncle.—a. Length: Average of 29.93 mm. b. Surface             Texture: Smooth.         -   Berry detachment.—Easy.         -   Berry weight.—Average of 2.4 g per berry, compared to             Liberty which has an average berry size of 2.2 g.         -   Berry height.—Average of 13.39 mm.         -   Berry width.—Average of 18.42 mm.         -   Berry shape.—Round to oblate.         -   Berry skin color.—a. Immature berry color: Pantone color             Celery Green 13-0532. b. Berry Skin Color on Plant: Pantone             color Gray Dawn 14-4106. c. Berry Skin Color after Harvest:             Pantone color Gray Dawn 14-4106. d. Berry Skin Color after             Polishing: Pantone color India Ink 19-4019.         -   Berry wax.—Medium wax, moderately persistent.         -   Berry flesh color.—Pantone color Water Lily 11-0304.         -   Pedicel scar.—Small and dry.         -   Berry firmness.—Firm.         -   Berry flavor.—Sweet, fruity.         -   Berry texture.—Smooth and firm. -   Seeds:     -   -   Seed color.—Pantone color Tortoise Shell 19-1241.         -   Seed length.—Average of 1.64 mm.         -   Seed width.—Average of 1.09 mm.         -   Seed weight.—Average of 0.3 mg.         -   Quantity seeds per berry.—Average of 36 seeds per berry. 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘ZF05-196,’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 